BNP escalates its push for polls by December
The BNP yesterday asked the government to downsize the advisory council, confine itself to routine works, and unveil a plan for elections by December.
The party demands immediate removal of advisers Mahfuj Alam and Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan and National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman in order to protect what the party says is the government's impartiality and image.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The BNP also calls for a smaller advisory council because the interim government's "responsibility is to organise a national election" and handle the routine administrative tasks, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, BNP Standing Committee member, said yesterday.
A top-heavy government is not needed, he told a press conference at the BNP chairperson's office in the capital's Gulshan.
Referring to Asif and Mahfuj without mentioning their names, Mosharraf said, "As these advisers are known to all as directly or indirectly involved with a new political party, their presence in the advisory council calls into question the nonpartisan identity of the interim government. To protect the government's image, they must be relieved of their duties.
"As these advisers are known to all as directly or indirectly involved with a new political party, their presence in the advisory council calls into question the nonpartisan identity of the interim government."
"Khalilur Rahman's comments about BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Wednesday sparked fresh controversy. To protect the integrity of the government, he too must be relieved of his duties," he said.
The BNP had earlier demanded the removal of several advisers who are "cohorts of fascists", he said.
On Wednesday, BNP leader Ishraque Hossain at a demonstration urged Asif and Mahfuj to resign as advisers.
The same day, the National Citizen Party demanded the removal of Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud, and Law Adviser Prof Asif Nazrul.
Addressing a rally in front of Election Commission, NCP's Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari said the party would continue to demonstrate for their removal, because they were inept.
At yesterday's press conference, Mosharraf said, "We demand immediate announcement of a specific roadmap to the national election, and the election must be held by December 2025…. Otherwise, as a party of the people, it will become difficult for the BNP to continue its cooperation with this government."
Asked why the advisory council should be smaller, BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the advisers who became controversial must be removed.
"The nation expects an election in December," he said.
If the election is to be held in December, the mode of the government should be caretaker-like, he said, adding that a caretaker administration had 10 advisers.
"We are not insisting on that exact number, but you have to move in that direction," he added.
Party insiders say some advisers are deliberately creating controversy to delay the election. Besides, some have made decisions that should only have been made by elected representatives.
The BNP last month handed the chief adviser a list of advisers who should resign.
At the press briefing yesterday, Mosharraf said the government did not act to meet public expectations. "The government tends to act only under pressure. This has already undermined the government's capacity and dignity, and legitimised similar pressure tactics by others.
"In the interest of the anti-fascist unity, the interim government was supposed to maintain the highest level of neutrality. But it is being observed that implementing the political agenda of certain quarters has seemingly become part of the government's action plan."
He criticised the NCP for demonstrating in front of the Election Commission.
"Laying siege to the Election Commission demanding local government elections appears intentional and mysterious," he said.
At another press conference yesterday morning at Nayapaltan, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said he wondered where Khalilur, the security adviser, had been during the "one and a half decades of fascist rule".
"Where did he live? In which country? What was his status abroad? What role did he play against fascism? The people must be given answers to all these questions," he said.
On Wednesday, Khalilur said, "If I'm being labelled a foreign citizen simply for residing in the US, then by the same logic, BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman – who has lived in the UK for years – could be similarly labelled [a foreigner].
"If you throw a stone at me, it might end up hitting someone else."
The BNP protested and condemned the security adviser's remarks on Tarique Rahman, calling for an immediate withdrawal of the statement. It alleged that certain advisers were attempting to make the return of Tarique Rahman to home unsafe.
According to sources present at a BNP standing committee meeting on Monday night, the party will take to the streets in July.
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